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| Sean Long’s Tupac Shakur documentary plays Nov. 14 at the Visions Blu Film Symposium. |
Karon Hamlet wants to improve your bottom line.
Visions Blu, her year-and-a-half old urban-oriented networking organization, hosts its second annual Film Symposium Nov. 14-15.
It’s an ambitious slate, and the focus is all business. “That’s what our members tell us they like best about our organization,” she said.
The Symposium opens with Columbia College president Warrick Carter speaking Nov. 14 at 7 p.m. at the State of Illinois Building, followed by a program of shorts.
At 10 p.m. there will be a screening of Chicagoan Sean Long’s documentary, “Tupac Shakur: Before I Wake,” recounting the last year of the rapper’s life through the eyes of his personal bodyguard.
Hamlet said she expects “a minimum of 500 attendees” and hopes to top last year’s 500 attendance. Several guests are expected from Detroit, Atlanta, Madison and Gary.
“I want people to walk away from the symposium with a better sense of how to approach their business to get a higher return on investment, whatever field they’re in,” she said.
An impressive array of heavy-hitting panelists includes: Time Warner corporate strategy director Steve Pamon; Columbia/Tri-Star VP Michael Stradford; Urban Entertainment programming VP Nichelle Protho and Simmons/Lathan Group development VP Angela Northington.
Among the local panelists are director Darryl Bullock (“Dark”); screenwriter Colin Costello; producer Mark Egmon; music composer/producer Jun Mhoon; DP John Simmons (“The Hugeleys”)
Saturday workshops cover directing/screenwriting, producing/distribution, acting/casting, sound/lighting/cinematography, and animation/voiceovers, with a heavy emphasis on interactions between panelists and attendees
Hamlet, who has an MBA in marketing from the University of Illinois, worked for the Chicago Park District in marketing. She has made Visions Blu her full-time occupation.
Workshops begin at 9 a.m. Nov. 15 at the State of Illinois Building, 160 N. LaSalle. Afterwards, there’s a 7-11 p.m. reception at the James R. Thompson Center, 100 W. Randolph.
Special $120 pre-registration package prior to Nov. 11. See
